At Mercy's Will

Part 22

the next day Tristan woke to his father shoving him out of bed.

"Get up!" his father snapped before leaving him to change. 

Groggily Tristan got up and dressed walking down stairs and into the dinning room to see Lisa sitting at the head of the table chatting carelessly with a few of the other servants who sat at her side. she was dressed in her work clothes and her chocolate hair was held back by a tan bandanna. 

his father grinned at Tristan's side and walked over to the table sitting down next to a young lad. when the boy noticed who it was sitting next to him he almost choked. this caught the other servant's attention and they all stood from the table and walked to the edges of the room. 

"Laird Marus, Tristan, i would not think you up this early." she said happily. 

"tis only 6 my Lady, a fine time to wake." his father said cheerfully. 

Tristan grumbled about the blasted hour and he won a shove in the ribs by his father's elbow. 

"I see you are dressed to work, we would have thought you could show us around." the laird said. 

"Ah yes, Sean would you please fetch the clothing i bought for the two lords?" she asked

a man nodded and left. she motioned for them to sit down and she dismissed the other servants from the room. 

"Since it is almost impossible to leave the castle with out a disguise, i purchased these peasant clothing so that you two could wear as we walk around the village." she said happily

just then the man came back, handing Tristan a heap of folded worn clothes. his father was grinning and sat down next to her, setting the clothes by him. Tristan sat on her other side and smiled. 

"Please eat, i have lots to show you all, though i fear we can't see everything today."she said. 

"Fear not, we have all the time in the world." Tristan said happily. 

she smiled and nodded. they ate in silence enjoying the company, when they had finished Lisa called in the rest of the servants and more food was prepared for them. Tristan and his father left to change into the clothes as she took the dirty plates and disappeared down a hall way that most likely led to the kitchen. 

"This is a little itchy." Tristan said scratching his calf. 

"very, but natural." his father said happily tying his shoes. 

Tristan nodded and went down stairs to see Lisa waiting for them, a giant basket in her hands full of fresh bread. she grinned and escorted them out the hole and into the small side path. they passed the suitors who called out in verse. 

"Miss, please, why wont the lady see me?" one yelled to her.

"Because she isn't interested in marriage to you, pull yourself together you don't even know her!" Lisa shouted back. 

"But she must love me!" he yelled back.

"No she doesn't, she hasn't even heard of you!" 

Tristan grinned seeing that they didn't even know who they were talking too. Lisa led them into the village and almost immediately little children came flocking to her.

"Lissy!" one of the little girls yelled in joy. 

Lisa laughed and set her basket down, hugging each of the children before handing them a small loaf of bread. they were so happy they jumped up and down. Tristan followed her and most of the children ran to him and his father demanding to be picked up. his father loved it and picked two at a time, laughing with them as he spun around. 

Lisa approached the parents handing them bigger loaves, many of the women had tears in their eyes as they accepted the food. 

"How is Jonathan doing?" she asked one of the older women.

"Still sick in bed, i told the lad not to go in the loch this time of year." his mother said as she whipped a loose tear away as she took two loaves of bread. 

"Tell him i said hello and wish him to get better. if it get's too bad, call on me, i will come" she said before hugging the woman and leaving. 

"These people love you." Tristan said

"Yes, i suppose they do." she said with a smile. "Which is why it will be painful when i finally have to leave."

he thought about moving all the people, and how much that would coast. no they seemed quite content with their living standards. 

they spent the whole day out and around the village visiting all the people they could. by the afternoon they were on their way home, Tristan laughed telling them about "Training" all the young lads. Lisa giggled and his father stood prouder. 

"Do you often visit your people?" Lisa asked him.

"No. i see now that i should start taking care of their health, and acting like you do." Tristan said with a small laugh.

"You know it isn't that hard, even for one with your sized brain." she teased. 

"What! teasing me already! i am so offended." he said acting offended and facing the other way from her. 

she giggled and playfully pushed. he grinned, and pretended to ignore her. 

"Why are you being so mean to me!" she whined.

"Me being mean, last i head, you were the one saying i was stupid!" he laughed back to her.  

"You know i didn't mean it." she teased.

they slipped in through the back, Lisa had said the servants had already drawn baths for them all. Tristan smiled thinking of the day they had just spent, he knew his father already adored Lisa. the suitors were still outside and made their usual camp party, the sound of live music and the jingle of belles could be heard. 

Lisa sighed happily as she sunk deeper into the warm bubbly water. a few of the other girls were washing her hair talking happily of the different suitors and the different things they brought. she was sad to say that her brother would be arriving tomorrow which meant random suitors were going to be at her door all day. she sighed and closed her eyes, the floral sent engulfing her. Tristan was here, him and his father would save her. deep down in the depths of her broken heart she wished that Tristan would propose to her and take her away. she hated this place, though she loved the people,  too many memories of things she didn't want to remember.  

"My Lady do you think so?" a girl asked inturrupting her thoughts.

"Hmm, what?" she asked.

"Day dreaming about Lord Marus," the girl said before she began to giggle.

"I suppose i was, strange." she mumbled. 

"I think he likes you, the way he looks at you and the way he looks at the suitors, i don't have a doubt in my mind that he doesn't like you." the girl said. 

"You think so?" she said giggling.

"I know so, Laird McLean comes tomorrow, when he does he will hold a dance for all the people, suitors, and the families of suitors, he will want you to choose a husband or what ever and if he approaches you and dances all the dances with you. you will know if he loves you." she said with a smile.

"But i have only known him about two weeks!"

"Plus all the letters you have been writing to him and he back." she said. 

"Are you positive?"

"yes, mostly."